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Headcorn Road
Grafty Green
01622 850259
http://kingsheadgraftygreen.co.uk/
https://whatpub.com/kings-head
Above photo 2005, by Dave Skinner
Creative Commons Licence. |
 
Above sign left, 2013, sign right 2022, by Tricia Francis. |
Above photo March 2018 kindly taken and sent by Rory Kehoe. |
Above photo February 2022, kindly taken and sent by Tricia Francis. |
A 16th century Coaching Inn, once frequented by famous smuggler "Dover
Bill".
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South Eastern Gazette 15 November 1842.
8 ACRES OF VERY VALUABLE UNDERWOOD,(TITHE FREE).
In Mason's Wood, in the parish of Lenham, varying from 10 to 17 years old.
TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION, BY MR. TOOTELL.
At the "King's Head," Grafty Green, on Tuesday, November 22nd, 1842, at
One for Two o'clock precisely, in 7 lots, by order of Mr. Thomas
Simmonds.
Mr. Baker, the landlord of the "King's Head Inn," Grafty-Green, will
shew the falls.
Catalogues and conditions of sale may be had at the "Dog and Bear Inn," Lenham; the "Swan," Charing; the place of sale; and Mr. Tootell's
office, Maidstone.
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South Eastern Gazette, 12 March, 1860.
SECOND COURT. (Before Gathorne Hardy, Esq., Chairman.)
Robbery from the Person.
Charles Bay was charged with stealing a watch, value £1, and 18s.,
the property of James Offen, of Boughton Malherbe, on the 9th Jan.
last. Mr. Russell was for the prosecution, and Mr. Dunbar for the
defence.
The prosecutor said that on the 8th January he was at the "Pig and
Whistle" with prisoner. They then went to the "King’s Head," where
they had some gin, and on their leaving prosecutor purchased a pint
of gin with a sovereign, and in change the landlord gave him some
half-crowns, one of them having a peculiar mark upon it. Prosecutor
had a silver watch with him. On the road they drank the gin, and the
prosecutor became intoxicated and lost his senses. When he came to,
on the following morning, he found himself at the "Pig and Whistle,"
with his money and watch gone.
Mr. Avery Kite, landlord of the "King’s Head," said prisoner and
prosecutor left his house in company about eleven o’clock on the
night in question.
Police-constable Brisknell said he saw the prisoner and Offen on the
high road, about 11 o’clock, and on returning between two and three
o’clock he found the prosecutor lying in the road, with his pocket
torn out. He had no money or watch with him. Witness searched
prisoner on the following day, and found some money on him; but did
not find the watch.
Mrs. Elizabeth Jarvis said the prisoner was a tenant under her
husband, and on Monday, the 9th, he paid her the half-crown
produced. (This half-crown the landlord of the "King’s Head"
identified as one he had paid to prosecutor on the night of the
robbery).
Mr. Dunbar urged that no evidence had been given with regard to the
watch, and that the evidence as to the half-crown was insufficient
to convict the prisoner.
The jury returned a verdict of acquittal.
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Maidstone Telegraph 18 December 1869.
BURGLARY.
Charles Pearson, was charged with burglarously breaking and entering the
dwelling house of Mr. John Broad, and stealing a gun and a quantity of
bread and cheese and tobacco, on the 9th inst. at Staplehurst.
It appeared from the evidence that the prisoner was at the house the day
previous, the prosecutor's wife being his sister. He stayed in the
neighbourhood all night, and effected an entrance between half-past four
and a quarter-past five. Prosecutor got up at half-past four to attend
to his horses, when he left the doors fastened. His wife got up at
half-past five, and missed the articles stolen. Prisoner was suspected,
he having been guilty of a similar offence before. Information was given
to the police, and the prisoner was apprehended by Sergt. Coppinger, at
Sutton Valance, in consequence of information he received from the
police of the Cranford division, to whom he handed him over. I.C. Ellis,
of the Cranbrook division, traced the gun to the possession of Mr. Avery
Kite, beerhouse keeper, Grafty-Green, Boughton Malherbe, where the
prisoner had left it for beer, victuals, and money.
Prisoner was committed to the assizes for trail.
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Taken from
http://www.timetravel-britain.com
Maidstone is now the county town
of Kent -- a large district centre with many former villages forming its
suburbs. One of these is Grafty Green where the "King's Head" was
frequented by an infamous fellow known as Dover Bill. Local tradition
tells that Bill and his fellow smugglers were surprised by the Revenue
while drinking in the pub, and events escalated to a full-scale running
battle. Eventually all of the gang except Bill were captured, leaving
Bill as an outcast amongst his friends and neighbours. The captured
members of the gang were hung at Penenden Heath, which witnessed the
capital punishment of many smugglers, including two of the Ransley
brothers.
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Taken from
http://legendarykent.wix.com
"On one cold and damp autumn
afternoon in the early part of the 1800s, an event happened that has
shadowed the sleepy village of Grafty Green until this very day. Grafty
Green stands in the shadow of Boughton Malherbe, near Lenham in Kent.
This particular afternoon, the rain had just stopped. Four men were
expected to walk home from the "King's Head" and along the old church
road to Lenham, but because of the coldness and the rain, they decided
to stay put, knowing that a coach was due. It was running extremely
later than usual because of the weather.
The coach finally arrived, to the relief of these four men who were
now worse for wear. The coach driver, Jenkins, was soaking wet but
remained his usual cheerful self. He changed his horses in the stables
that were set behind the pub. This set him back 15 minutes before
setting off again to Lenham with the four men inside.
The light was beginning to draw in as his horses galloped along this
ancient road at a pace. More bad weather looked certain as they
approached Boughton Malherbe. The coach hadn't gone far, just a short
distance, when the horses became spooked by a noise that was said to be
the sound of gunshots. Could this have been from the highwaymen who
regularly operated in these parts as they did all over the Kentish
countryside? It could also have possibly been the sound of thunder claps
that seemed to be rolling in.
The horses quickened and Jenkins was struggling to control them,
especially at such a speed. The coach was approaching a left-hand bend
when the horses bolted to the right instead, smashing into trees and
were killed instantly, as too was Jenkins whose head was severed as the
coach flipped and rolled to a sudden halt. The four male passengers
inside were also killed in the accident".
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From the
https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Keely Greenwood, 19 March 2023.
Guns and drugs found lying around at The Kings Head pub in Grafty Green,
Maidstone.
A pub is at risk of losing its licence after a police raid discovered
guns lying around the premises.
Police fear the The Kings Head in Maidstone is unsafe for customers and
are asking for the licence to be revoked following a search of the pub.
During the raid on the pub in Headcorn Road, Grafty Green, on Wednesday,
February 8, officers found a number of guns in the bar area, including
two imitation firearms, a BB gun, a starter revolver and an ASP baton in
the bar area along with a supply of ammunition upstairs.
Four shotguns were also found at the premises. Although these were
legally held under a shotgun licence, only three of them were correctly
stored, while the fourth was found standing at the top of the stairs.
The application said drugs were also found in the upstairs rooms in the
form of small bags of cannabis and bags of white powder which police
believed were connected with the supply of drugs.
Kent Police want to revoke the pub's licence due fears about the safety
of the pub's customers.
It stated: "It is the belief of Kent Police that this premises, if
allowed to continue to operate unchecked, represents a serious and real
danger to the safety of the public. It is clear from the location where
items were seized from that the premises licence holders were aware of
them and permitted them to remain on site.
"The presence of multiple weapons within the public areas gives rise to
concerns with regards to the intended use or need for these items and
believe it is indicative of an involvement of those present in serious
crime.
"Due to the serious nature of weapons being in the bar gives Kent Police
concern in the management’s ability in running a safe pub."
Kent Police are requesting the premises supervisor be removed and the
pub licence be revoked.
The landlady of The Kings Head declined to comment.
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From the
https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Keely Greenwood, 7 May 2023.
The Kings Head in Headcorn Road, Grafty Green can stay open after licence
review dropped.
A family-run pub threatened with losing its license after a police raid
uncovered guns and drugs lying around has been told it can continue
trading.
The Kings Head at Grafty Green in Maidstone was threatened with closure
owing to fears over the safety of its customers.
Kenneth and Evelyn Sweet, pictured with their daughter Beverley,
have run The Kings Head for the last 33 years.
It comes after a police raid found a number of guns in the bar area and
drugs in the upstair rooms.
Beverley Simpson-Sweet told KentOnline her family, who have been running
the pub in Headcorn Road for 33 years, have been worried sick about a
review of its licence.
Speaking to Kent Online, Beverley said: “It’s been a very tough time,
especially for my parents, who are in their eighties. It’s been so
worrying. We are so pleased to be able to continue running.
“We want to thank our customers for all their support during this
terrible time. We are good people and there has never been any bother
here.”
Beveley’s elderly parents Kenneth Sweet, 84, and his wife Evelyn, 85,
still play an active part in helping Beverley behind the bar.
The pub’s licence came under threat after a police raid in February
found a number of guns in the bar area, including two imitation
firearms, a BB gun, a starter revolver and an ASP baton in the bar area
along with a supply of ammunition upstairs.
Four shotguns were also found at the premises. Although these were
legally held under a shotgun licence, only three of them were correctly
stored, while the fourth was found standing at the top of the stairs.
The application said drugs were also found in the upstairs rooms in the
form of small bags of cannabis and bags of white powder which officers
believed at the time were connected with the supply of drugs.
Police wanted to revoke the pub's licence due to fears about the safety
of the pub's customers.
However, Beverley said she has now been told the licence review has been
dropped, subject to her attending a refresher personal licence course.
She said there were no issues with guns or drugs.
A spokesman for Maidstone council said: “In accordance with the
council’s statement of licensing policy, the hearing scheduled for 28
April 2023 has been cancelled.
“In the circumstances, all parties have agreed that the hearing is
unnecessary and that matters have been resolved such as to ensure
promotion of the licensing objectives.”
Inspector Steve Kent, of the Maidstone Community Safety Unit, said: “We
are working with the licence holder for the King's Head public house in
Grafty Green, to add new conditions to the premises licence.
“This will assist the management to deliver their responsibilities under
the licensing objectives and operate a safe establishment.” |
LICENSEE LIST
BAKER Mr 1842+
BAKER Sampson 1851+
(also farmer age 41 in 1851 )
BUTLER William 1858+
KITE Avery Mr 1860-71+
(also farmer age 61 in 1861)
WICKENS John 1881-1903+ (also farmer age 46 in 1881)
SWEET Keith & Evelyn 1990-23+
Census
From the Kelly's Directory 1903
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